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13th Age Archmage Engine, version 3.0. Copyright 2013-2016 Fire Opal Media. All Rights Reserved. Licensed under the Open Game License.

13th Age Archmage Engine System Reference Document for 13th Age


Table of Contents Table of Contents .......................................................................................... 3

Legal ......................................................................................................... 6

Product Identity .......................................................................................... 6

Open Content ............................................................................................ 6

Open Game License ..................................................................................... 6

13th Age Archmage Engine .............................................................................. 8

Revision History .......................................................................................... 8

Icons ......................................................................................................... 11

Character Rules ............................................................................................ 11

Race ...................................................................................................... 11

Class ...................................................................................................... 11

Abilities .................................................................................................. 11

Combat Stats ............................................................................................ 12

One Unique Thing ....................................................................................... 13

Icon Relationships ...................................................................................... 13

Backgrounds & Skill Checks ........................................................................... 16

Feats ...................................................................................................... 17

Gear ...................................................................................................... 19

Races ........................................................................................................ 26

Human .................................................................................................... 27

Dwarf ..................................................................................................... 27

Dark Elf ................................................................................................... 27

High Elf ................................................................................................... 28

Wood Elf ................................................................................................. 28

Gnome .................................................................................................... 28

Half-elf ................................................................................................... 29

Halfling ................................................................................................... 29

Half-orc .................................................................................................. 29

Dragonic/Dragonspawn ................................................................................ 30

Holy One/Aasimar ...................................................................................... 30

Forgeborn/Dwarf-forged ............................................................................... 30

Tiefling/Demontouched................................................................................ 30

Classes ...................................................................................................... 31


Class Basics .............................................................................................. 31

Barbarian ................................................................................................. 32

Bard ....................................................................................................... 39

Chaos Mage .............................................................................................. 57

Cleric ..................................................................................................... 82

Commander .............................................................................................. 97

Druid .....................................................................................................114

Fighter ...................................................................................................165

Monk .....................................................................................................176

Necromancer ...........................................................................................199

Occultist ................................................................................................228

Paladin ..................................................................................................246

Ranger ...................................................................................................252

Rogue ....................................................................................................264

Sorcerer .................................................................................................277

Wizard ...................................................................................................295

Multiclassing...............................................................................................319

Multiclassing Basics ....................................................................................319

Key Ability Modifier ...................................................................................322

Barbarian Multiclass ...................................................................................323

Bard Multiclass .........................................................................................324

Chaos Mage Multiclass .................................................................................324

Cleric Multiclass ........................................................................................325

Commander Multiclass ................................................................................325

Druid Multiclass ........................................................................................325

Fighter Multiclass ......................................................................................325

Monk Multiclass ........................................................................................326

Necromancer Multiclass ...............................................................................326

Occultist Multiclass ....................................................................................326

Paladin Multiclass ......................................................................................326

Ranger Multiclass ......................................................................................326

Rogue Multiclass .......................................................................................327

Sorcerer Multiclass ....................................................................................327

Wizard Multiclass ......................................................................................327


Combat Rules .............................................................................................328

Combat Stats ...........................................................................................328

Combat Sequence ......................................................................................329

Combat Actions ........................................................................................331

Special Actions .........................................................................................334

Attacks ..................................................................................................335

Damage and Healing ...................................................................................336

Death and Dying .......................................................................................337

Rest and Recharge .....................................................................................338

Combat Modifiers ......................................................................................338

Special Attacks and Effects ..........................................................................339

Running the Game ........................................................................................341

Using Icon Relationships ..............................................................................341

Environments ...........................................................................................342

Building Battles ........................................................................................344

Full Heal-ups ...........................................................................................345

Leveling Up .............................................................................................346

Loot: Treasure Rewards ...............................................................................347

Rituals ...................................................................................................348

Monsters ...................................................................................................349

Monster Rules ..........................................................................................349

Monster List .............................................................................................352

Monster Key ............................................................................................366

Monster Reference .....................................................................................368

Monster Creation .......................................................................................673

Underkrakens ...........................................................................................677

Magic Items ................................................................................................677

One-Use Items ..........................................................................................677

True Magic Items .......................................................................................680

Chakras ..................................................................................................680

Magic Item Basics ......................................................................................681

Artifacts .................................................................................................682

Magic Item Descriptions...............................................................................683


Legal The 13th Age Archmage Engine describes the rules of 13th Age, the 13th Age Bestiary, and 13

True Ways that you may incorporate, wholly or in part, into a derivative work.

In short, well describe the rules and mechanics that we use for 13th Age (Open Content),

then you can adopt the ones you like and leave the ones you dont. Just dont use any

intellectual property that is not specifically part of the 13th Age Archmage Engine (Product

Identity).

Product Identity The following items are hereby identified as Product Identity, as defined in the Open Game

License 1.0a, Section 1(e), and are not Open Content: All trademarks, registered trademarks,

proper names (characters, icons, etc.), dialogue, plots, storylines, locations, characters,

artworks, and trade dress. (Elements that have previously been designated as Open Game

Content are not included in this declaration.)

Open Content Except for material designated as Product Identity (see above), the game mechanics of this

Fire Opal Media game product are Open Game Content, as defined in the Open Game License

version 1.0a Section 1(d). No portion of this work other than the material designated as Open

Game Content may be reproduced in any form without written permission.

Open Game License OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a

The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards

of the Coast, Inc. ("Wizards"). All Rights Reserved.

1. Definitions: (a)"Contributors" means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have

contributed Open Game Content; (b)"Derivative Material" means copyrighted material

including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages),

potation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement,

compilation, abridgment or other form in which an existing work may be recast,

transformed or adapted; (c) "Distribute" means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell,

broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d)"Open Game Content"

means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and

routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an

enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open

Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License,

including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically

excludes Product Identity. (e) "Product Identity" means product and product line

names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures

characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents,

language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts,

themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names

and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas,

likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures,

equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic


designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product

identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the

Open Game Content; (f) "Trademark" means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto,

designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the

associated products contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g)

"Use", "Used" or "Using" means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate

and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) "You" or "Your"

means the licensee in terms of this agreement.

2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice

indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this

License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No

terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as described by the

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licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of such Trademark or

Registered Trademark. The use of any Product Identity in Open Game Content does

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Product Identity used in Open Game Content shall retain all rights, title and interest in

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8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which

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License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial

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13. Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all

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breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.

14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such

provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.

15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Open Game License v 1.0a. Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

System Reference Document. Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors:

Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, based on material by E. Gary Gygax and

Dave Arneson.

13th Age. Copyright 2013, Fire Opal Media; Authors: Rob Heinsoo, Jonathan Tweet,

based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.

13th Age Bestiary. Copyright 2014, Fire Opal Media and Pelgrane Press Ltd; Authors:

Ryven Cedyrlle, Rob Heinsoo, Kenneth Hite, Kevin Kulp, ASH LAW, Cal Moore, Steve

Townshend, Rob Watkins, Rob Wieland.

13 True Ways. Copyright 2014, Fire Opal Media, Inc.; Authors: Rob Heinsoo, Jonathan

Tweet, Robin D. Laws.

Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook. Copyright 2009, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Author: Jason

Bulmahn, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.

Castles & Crusades, Copyright 2004, Troll Lord Games; Authors: Davis Chenault, Mac

Golden.

13th Age Archmage Engine. Copyright 2013-2016, Fire Opal Media. Author: Chad Dylan

Long, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Rob Heinsoo, Ryven Cedyrlle, Kenneth

Hite, Kevin Kulp, ASH LAW, Cal Moore, Steve Townshend, Rob Watkins, and Rob

Wieland.

13th Age Archmage Engine Copyright 2013-2016, Fire Opal Media. Author: Chad Dylan Long, based on material by

Jonathan Tweet, Rob Heinsoo, Ryven Cedyrlle, Kenneth Hite, Kevin Kulp, ASH LAW, Robin D.

Laws, Cal Moore, and Steve Townshend. Edited by Cal Moore and Simon Rogers. Cover art by

Cougar George.

Revision History

3.0

Additions:

13 True Ways monsters

13 True Ways classes

13 True Ways multiclassing

13 True Ways magic items


Artifacts (magic items)

Targeting clarification

Monster level-up guidelines, and stat adjustments for monster creation

Underkraken short intro

Intellect Assassin

Changes:

Monster List: added 13 True Ways monsters

Feat Lists: added feat tables for 13 True Ways characters

Ranger Animal Companion rules

Level Progression tables of the core classes now have (M) designations

Useful Magic Items by Class table includes 13 True Ways classes

Minor changes to sorting of Wands (Magic Items)

Fixed category for Dire Bear, Hellhound, Ochre Jelly (Monster Reference)

Fixed capitalization for Couatls (Monster Reference)

Fixed sizes for Bulette, Jotun Auroch, Volcano Dragon, Elder Swaysong Naga, Elder

Sparkscale Naga, Skull of the Beast, Elder Manafang Naga (Monster Reference)

Fixed names for Fungaloid Creeper, Lammasu Warrior, Remorhaz entries (Monster

Reference)

Fixed role for Winter Beast (Monster Reference)

Monster List updates

o poddling -> podling

o ghoul: humanoid -> undead

o slime skull -> slime-skull

o kobold dog rider -> kobold dog-rider

o hell hound -> hellhound

o woven -> the woven

o flaming skull: small > normal

o hydra, 5 heads -> hydra, five-headed

o hydra, 7 heads -> hydra, seven-headed

o warp beast -> warped beast

o intellect assassin: spoiler -> blocker

o vrock -> vrock (vulture demon)

o giant vrock -> giant vrock (vulture demon)

o spider mount: large -> normal

o sahuagin mutant: 2x -> large

o hezrou -> hezrou (toad demon)

o bronze golem: wrecker -> blocker

o phase spider: wrecker -> spoiler

o stone golem: ooze -> construct

o glabrezou -> glabrezou (pincer demon)

o purple larvae -> purple larva

o marble golem: 8 -> 9

o great fang cadre (orc) -> great fang cadre

o spawn of the master (vampire) -> spawn of the master

o marilith -> marilith (serpent demon)


o balor -> balor (flame demon)

Minor formatting to feat tables (remove bold A C E).

Removals:

Feat List

2.0 Additions:

Bestiary monsters and abilities

Type column to Monster List

Chuulish symbiotic items

Shadow Dragon cursed items

Handsome cover image

Changes:

Moved creature-specific abilities to those creature headings.

Removed a reference to 13th Age core book layout.

Reordered some creatures.

Changed some instances x2 to 2x.

Zombie Shuffler entry now has correct type listed.

Modified legal text for consistency with other media.

1.1 Additions:

Newly-Risen Ghoul added to Monster Reference.

Stats for Zombie Shuffler added.

Attack for Decrepit Skeleton added.

Added Domain: Knowledge/Lore to Cleric talents.

Revision History section added.

Version number and reference to 13th Age Archmage Engine added to the footer.

Changes:

Moved Invocation of Justice/Vengeance back underneath the Domain:

Justice/Vengeance heading (and above the feats).

1.0 Initial release.


Icons The 13th Age Archmage Engine supports the concept of icons. An icon is a powerful NPC (non-

playable character) that has a strong influence on the world outside of your campaign, yet

may indeed aid or oppose your character over the course of your campaign, depending on the

relationship your character has with the icon.

Icons have their own story, alignment, and personality. The general knowledge and history

about them may vary in depth and accuracy; they may be well-known or mysterious. They

have their own relationships with other icons, too, which may be friendly, tolerable, or

acrimonious.

Your character may have relationships with certain icons. This relationship, if it exists, can be

positive, conflicted, or negative. See Icon Relationships.

Character Rules These rules are for the character you create, your PC (playable character).

Race Every character has a race (see Races). Pick one for your character. If you want to make a

non-standard race for your character, the rules wont hinder you. The system is designed to

be flexible enough to allow for improvisation.

Each race provides a +2 bonus to one of your ability scores.

Class Every character has a class (see Classes). Pick one of these too.

Each class provides a +2 bonus to one of your ability scores.

Abilities Your character can be assigned ability scores in various ways. Here are two ways.

Roll em

Roll 4d6 for each of the six ability scores (Strength, Constitution, Dexterity, Intelligence,

Wisdom, and Charisma). Drop the low die in each roll. Put the scores into any order to best fit

the character you want to play.

Point Buy You get 28 points to buy your abilities using the chart below.

Ability Cost

18 16

17 13

16 10

15 8

14 6


13 5

12 4

11 3

10 2

9 1

8 0

Combat Stats For details on how combat works, see Combat Rules.

Although Armor Class, Physical Defense, and Mental Defense are based on a single ability

score, the score each defense uses depends on the character. In each case, you look at three

ability modifiers and use the middle value (not the highest or the lowest). If two or more

modifiers are tied, you use one of those tied scores as the middle score.

1st level Hit Points 1. Find the base value for your class (6, 7, or 8) in the Starting Stats for 1st Level

Characters chart.

2. Add your Con modifier to get your hit point value.

3. Multiply your hit point value by 3 to get your total hit points at 1st level.

Armor Class 1. Find the base AC value for your class (10 to 16) in the Starting Stats for 1st Level

Characters chart.

2. Find the middle value among your Con modifier, Dex modifier, and Wis modifier. That

value is your AC modifier.

3. Add the AC modifier to your base AC value.

4. Add +1 at 1st level (and increase by +1 at each additional class level).

Physical Defense 1. Find the base PD for your class (10 to 12) in the Starting Stats for 1st Level Characters

chart.

2. Find the middle value among your Str modifier, Con modifier, and Dex modifier. That

value is your PD modifier.

3. Add the PD modifier to your base PD.


Mental Defense

1. Find the base MD for your class (10 to 12) in the Starting Stats for 1st Level Characters

chart.

2. Find the middle value among your Int modifier, Wis modifier, and Cha modifier. That

value is your MD modifier.

3. Add the MD modifier to your base MD.

4. Add +1 at 1st level (and increase by +1 for each class level).


Initiative Your Initiative bonus is a d20 check, not a static value.

1. Start with your Dexterity modifier.


Recoveries & Recovery Dice

Most characters start the game with 8 recoveries. (See Recoveries.) Some classes and talent

choices may give you more recoveries.

Each class also has a different recovery die, usually a d6, d8, or d10, as specified in the class

write-up. When you roll a recovery, youll roll a number of recovery dice equal to your level

and add your Constitution modifier.

Attacks and Powers You calculate attack and damage rolls based on the ability scores favored by your class or by

the specific powers you choose within your class. Most classes use one specific ability score

for most of their attacks. See Classes for more information.

One Unique Thing Your characters One Unique Thing (their unique) is a special feature invented by you, the

player, which sets your character apart from every other hero. It is a unique and special trait

to your player, and markedly unusual. The intent is that it provides a special flavor to the

campaign and can assist the GM in determining how your character can interact with

characters and story in the campaign.

Your characters unique should not provide general practical value in combat. That is not the

intent. The intent is to open up story arcs and fun roleplaying opportunities.

Icon Relationships Your characters relationship with icons is an important way to draw him or her into your

game world. An icon may have its own champions and heroes (including you) to advance its

cause in the game world.

Relationship Points At 1st level, each character gets 3 relationship points. Each point represents one d6 to be used

when trying to leverage your connection to the icon. (See Using Icon Relationships.)

The number of points you invest in a relationship with an icon doesnt necessarily correlate

with the closeness of the connection or the strength of the relationship. It does correlate with

the utility of the relationship. Its not necessarily about how well the icon knows you or how

strong the icon feels about you. Instead, the points reflect the chance that your relationship

will be helpful to you.

The Icons Relationships Master Chart summarizes the likely roleplaying and story-oriented

consequences of positive, conflicted, and negative relationships with heroic, ambiguous, and

villainous icons.

Icon Relationships Master Chart Icon Positive Relationship Conflicted Relationship Negative Relationship


Heroic

Icon

Spend 1, 2, or 3 points.

As far as this icon is concerned,

youre one of the good guys, a

white-hat hero. Authorities often

help you, and civilians often trust

you. On the down side, you may be

called on to serve representatives

of the icon even when you have

other plans. You might also be a

target of villainous icons or this

heroic icons rivals.


You're probably one of the

good guys, but for some reason

you're suspect to the icon.

Maybe you're a convict who has

served his time, or an imperial

soldier who was too good and

got drummed out of his legion.

You have insider knowledge

and allies who are in good with

the icon, but you also have

enemies associated with the

icon.

Spend 1 point.

In the icons eyes, you're

a dissident, opponent,

rival, or foe. You may

have contacts or inside

knowledge that you can

use to your advantage,

but some form of trouble

waits for you wherever

this heroic icon has

influence.

Ambiguous

Icon


Thanks to your relationship with the

icon, you are a hero to some, a

villain to others, and possibly even

a monster to a few. The enemies of

your friends may turn out to be

your friends, and vice versa.

Advantages and complications will

come from all sides.


Your relationship with the icon

is complex, an uneven

relationship with an icon who's

a hero to some and a villain to

others. One way or another,

you can find help or hostility

anywhere. You dont just live

in interesting timesyou

create them.

Spend 1 or 2 points.

Your enmity with this icon

makes you some enemies,

but it also makes you

some useful friends. You

may be a dissenter,

unwanted family

member, or even a traitor

in some way.

Villainous

Icon

Spend 1 point.

You are able to gain secrets or

secretive allies, but your

connection to this icon brings

trouble from people associated with

the heroic icons who oppose the

villain. Be prepared to justify why

you're not imprisoned,

interrogated, or otherwise harassed

by the heroic icons and their

representatives whenever they

encounter you. Or for that matter,

by the other PCs.


You mostly work against the

icon, but you're also connected

to the icon in a way you can't

deny. Your connection

sometimes gives you special

knowledge or contacts, but it

also makes you suspect in the

eyes of many right-minded

would-be heroes.


You mostly work against

the icon, but you're also

connected to the icon in a

way you can't deny. Your

connection sometimes

gives you special

knowledge or contacts,

but it also makes you

suspect in the eyes of

many right-minded

would-be heroes.

This chart assumes that youre playing a heroic character. A villainous character will need to

swap the maximums between heroic and villainous icons.

Rolling Icon Relationship Dice

To check your icon relationship (your relationship with a particular icon), roll a d6 for each

point you have in the relationship. This means that you will usually roll 1, 2, or 3 dice. (At

epic level, it may be 4.)


If any die is a 6, you get some meaningful advantage from the relationship without having

complications. If two or three dice come up 6, thats even better.

If any die is a 5, your connection to the icon is going to work out as well as a 6 would, but

with some unexpected complication. If its a good icon, you might be drawn into some

obligation. If its a villainous icon, you might attract unwanted attention.

Rolling 5s when you also rolled 6s should make life both interesting and advantageous!

Icons Organizations Icons are usually not directly part of the campaign. They rarely make an appearance

personally, except perhaps at epic level. Most of the time, interacting with an icon means

that youre actually interacting with his or her lower-level functionaries, acolytes, disciples,

bureaucrats, lieutenants, barons, priests, etc. In fact, any level of relationship with an icon

can be enough to get you noticed by other people who are connected to that icon.

Using Icon Relationships

The most straightforward way to use your relationship points is on positive or conflicted

connections that generally provide you with outright assistance and useful information.

Negative relationships usually provide inside knowledge, special skills, opportunistic allies,

and possibly some sort of supernatural advantage against a villain.

Often you might find that enemies of your rival see you as an opportunity to strike against

that mutual enemy. You might get help, wealth and resources, and even magic items from

quite unexpected sources, some of which may not be entirely to your liking.

In addition to aid from others, icon relationships provide characters with special knowledge.

A negative relationship with a thoroughly villainous icon is more in keeping with the heroic

lifestyle, but you should expect that the assistance you get from a negative relationship may

end up being more directly confrontational than more conventional conflicted and positive

relationships.

Changing Relationships

When your character achieves champion level (5th), you gain an extra relationship point. Use

it to increase an existing relationship by one die or gain a 1-point relationship with a new icon

to match your characters story thus far. You can save the extra relationship die and decide

to apply it later.

At 5th level, or any time thereafter, you can switch an existing relationship point from one

icon to another, including to a new icon. You owe the GM and other players an entertaining

explanation of what this big change represents for your character personally, of course.

When you reach epic level (8th), you gain another relationship point, which you can use to

increase an existing icon relationship by one die, including up to 1 point over maximum. As at

5th level, if switching a relationship point from one icon to another makes sense for your 8th

level character, go for it.


Backgrounds & Skill Checks Backgrounds represent pieces of your characters history that contributes to your characters

history as well as their ability to succeed with non-combat skills.

Each character has a number of points to allocate to a set of backgrounds. These are broad

categories of experience (cat burglar, for example) rather than specific implementations of

that experience (climbing and hiding).

Backgrounds dont sync to a specific ability score, though some backgrounds obviously may

get used more often with certain ability scores than others.

Assigning Background Points Each character gets 8 background points, plus any extra that your classs talents award.

Assign your background points to as many backgrounds as you want, up to your total points.

You can assign a maximum of 5 points to a single background (and minimum of 1).

Making Skill Checks

When you roll a skill check to find out if you succeed at a task or trick, the GM tells you which

ability score is being tested. Then you choose the background you think is relevant to gain the

points you have in that background as a bonus to the skill check.

Most skill checks require you to equal or beat a Difficulty Class (DC), set by the environment

you are operating in, to succeed.

To make a skill check, use this formula:

D20 + relevant ability modifier + level + relevant background points

Vs.

DC set by the environment

You cant apply multiple backgrounds to the same check; the background with the highest (or

tied for highest) bonus applies.

Choosing Your Backgrounds Choose backgrounds that help you make sense of your characters past, jobs, and settings.

Background and skill use is meant to be about fun in-character methods of attempting to

advance the plot.

A few possible backgrounds include: acrobat, alchemist, animal trainer, architect,

aristocratic noble, assassin, chef, con-woman, goblin exterminator, hunted outlaw, knight

errant, magecraft, priest, refugee, scout, shepherd, soldier, spy, temple acolyte, thief,

torturer, transformed animal, traveling martial arts pupil, tribal healer, tunnel scout,

wandering minstrel, warrior poet, and so on.

Choose the Relevant Ability Score

For players, the point of this background/skill system is to encourage roleplaying and creative

solutions to problems. Not every problem can be solved by your dominant abilities. For the

GM, its the chance to make all of the ability scores matter at one time or another.


Natural 20s and Fumbles with Skill Checks When a PC rolls a natural 20 with a skill check, the GM should feel free to give that character

much more success than the player expected.

When a PC rolls a 1 with a skill check, the skill check fumbles and fails, perhaps in a

particularly bad way. But a failure isnt always entirely terrible.

Fail Forward!

Outside of battle, when failure would tend to slow action down rather than move the action

along, instead interpret it as a near-success or event that happens to carry unwanted

consequences or side effects. The character probably still fails to achieve the desired goal,

but thats because something happens on the way to the goal rather than because nothing

happens. In any case, the story and action still keep moving.

Background/Skill Advancement All your skill checks increase by 1 when you level up. If you want even better skill checks,

take the Further Backgrounding feat.

If you just want to move around the bonuses you already have to show how your character is

changing, you can move one background point around among your current backgrounds each

time you gain a level, or swap the point into an entirely new background, with the GMs

permission.

Feats Characters choose a feat at 1st level, and at every subsequent level.

Feats appear in three tiers: adventurer feats, champion feats, and epic feats. Adventurer

feats are available to any character between level 1 and level 10. Champion feats are

available starting at level 5. Epic feats are available starting at level 8.

Feats per Level

Level Player Character

1 1 adventurer

2 2 adventurer

3 3 adventurer

4 4 adventurer

5 4 adventurer

1 champion

6 4 adventurer

2 champion

7 4 adventurer

3 champion


8

4 adventurer

3 champion

1 epic

9

4 adventurer

3 champion

2 epic

10

4 adventurer

3 champion

3 epic

Since humans start with an additional feat at 1st level, add one to the number of adventurer

feats humans possess all the way up the chart.

Most of the feats in the game are attached to specific class talents, attacks, and spells. If a

feat is attached to a talent, power, or spell, you must have the talent, power, or spell in

order to choose the feat. When there is more than one feat attached to a specific talent or

power, you have to choose the lower tier feats before you pick up the higher tier feats.

General Feats

These are general feats available to any character. A character cant take a specific feat

more than once. A few general feats only have adventurer-tier versions; others also have

champion- and epic-tier versions that can be added later in your career.

Further Backgrounding

Adventurer Tier

Add a total of 2 points to backgrounds you already have, or choose 2 points of new

backgrounds that make sense for your character. You still cant go over the 5-point-per-

background maximum.

Champion Tier


backgrounds that make sense for your character. You still cant go over the 5-point-per-

background maximum.

Epic Tier


backgrounds that make sense for your character. These points can take one of your

backgrounds over 5, to a maximum of 7.

Improved Initiative

Adventurer Tier: Gain a +4 bonus to Initiative checks.


Linguist

Adventurer Tier: This feat allows you to speak enough arcana, dwarven, elven, gnomish,

gnoll, goblin, orcish, and other standard humanoid languages to comprehend enough of what

most other humanoids are saying or screaming during battle. You are not fluent in all these

languages, no one will mistake you for a native speaker, and your vocabulary is adventurer-

centric (heavy on words connected to danger rather than philosophy or emotions).

You can also read enough to get by in all these languages.

Champion Tier

You can speak, read, and write all the humanoid languages fluently. Stranger languages are

no problem for you either. If someone is speaking it, you can figure it out.

Precise Shot

Adventurer Tier: When your ranged attack targets an enemy who is engaged with an ally, you

have no chance of hitting that ally.

Rapid Reload

Adventurer Tier: Reloading a heavy crossbow now takes only a quick action. Reloading a hand

or light crossbow is a free action.

Reach Tricks

Once per battle, tell the GM how you are using your weapons reach to perform an

unexpected stunt with a reach weapon such as a longspear or halberd. To use the stunt, you

must roll a 6+ on a d20.

Ritual Casting

Adventurer Tier: You can cast any spells you know as rituals. Classes that are already ritual

casters (cleric, wizard) dont need this feat. (See Rituals for ritual casting rules.)

Skill Escalation

Adventurer Tier: Twice per day, you can add the escalation die to one of your skill checks.

Choose after you roll the check.

Strong Recovery

Adventurer Tier: When you roll recovery dice, reroll one of the dice and use the higher result.

At 5th level, reroll two of the dice. At 8th level, reroll three.

Toughness

Adventurer Tier: You get additional hit points equal to half your baseline class hit points

(rounded down). At 5th level, the total hp bonus increases to your baseline hp value. At 8th

level, the total hp bonus increases to double your baseline hp value.

Gear Every character has a set of gear. Each class lists the type of gear a member of that class

normally uses. You can equip non-magical gear as your backgrounds and character history

suggest.

As a guide to what costs what, use the Equipment Price Guide.


Armor Categories Armor is classified as either light or heavy.

Light armor includes: Heavily padded vest, leather armor, studded leather, cured hide.

Heavy armor includes: Heavy chainmail, ring armor, scale mail, half-plate, plate armor, most

dragonscale armor.

Melee Weapon Categories These are the categories of melee weapons:

Small, one-handed: club, dagger, knife

Small, two-handed: big club, scythe

Light/simple, one-handed: hand axe, javelin, mace, shortsword, big knife

Light/simple, two-handed: spear

Heavy/martial, one-handed: bastard sword, battleaxe, flail, hammer, longsword,

morningstar, scimitar

Heavy/martial, two-handed: dire flail, greataxe, greatsword, halberd, polearms,

heavy warhammer

Ranged Weapon Categories Ranged weapons can be reloaded as part of the standard action in which they are used in an

attack. Hand and light crossbows require a quick action to reload. Heavy crossbows require a

move action to reload.

Nearby Targets Only

Small, thrown: club, dagger, knife

Small, crossbow: hand crossbow

Nearby Targets Okay; Far Away Targets 2 Atk

Light/simple, thrown: axe, javelin, spear

Nearby and Far Away Targets Okay

Light/simple, crossbow: light crossbow

Light/simple, bow: shortbow, sling

Heavy/martial, crossbow: heavy crossbow

Heavy/martial, bow: longbow

Economy One platinum piece (pp) equals 10 gold pieces. One gold piece (gp) equals 10 silver pieces.

One silver piece (sp) equals 10 copper pieces (cp).

Equipment Price Guide

Characters start with armor, weapons, and standard traveling gear; prices are included for

reference.

Standard Traveling Gear

Item Price

Flint and tinder box 1 sp


Money pouch (small) 3 sp

Pack/traveling satchel 1 gp

Rain cloak 3 sp

Road rations (5 days) 25 sp

Sleeping roll 1 sp

Water/wine skin or flask 7 sp

General Goods

Item Price

Arrows/bolts/sling bullet 1 sp/each

Blanket (wool) 5 sp

Candle 1 cp

Chain, dwarven forged (10 ft) 10 gp

Chain, iron (10 ft) 5 gp

Clothing, simple 2 sp

Clothing, good 1 gp

Clothing, expensive 10100gp

Clothing, rain cloak (elven) 5 gp

Crowbar (iron) 3 gp

Flask (crystal) 5 gp

Flask (glass) 5 sp

Flask (pottery) 5 cp

Grappling hook (iron) 1 gp

Hammer, small 3 sp

Holy symbol/implement (adv) 10 gp

Holy symbol/implement (chp) 100 gp

Holy symbol/implement (epic) 1000gp

Iron spike 1 sp

Lantern (common) 8 sp

Lantern (hooded) 5 gp


Lantern oil (4 hrs) 1 sp

Magnifying glass 25 gp

Mirror, large 5 gp

Mirror, small 2 gp

Musical instrument (intricate) 525 gp

Musical instrument (simple) 15 gp

Pipeweed (1 use) 2 cp

Prayer book 2 gp

Rope, 50 ft elven 3 gp

Rope, 50 ft good 6 sp

Rope, 50 ft poor 2 sp

Spellbook (adventurer) 10 gp

Spellbook (champion) 100 gp

Spellbook (epic) 1,000 gp

Tent, large 5 gp

Tent, small 2 gp

Tent, wood elven 10 gp

Thieves tools (adventurer) 2 gp

Thieves tools (champion) 20 gp

Thieves tools (epic) 200 gp

Torch (1 hr.) 1 gp

Torch (6 min) 1 sp

Food/Lodging

Item Price

Road rations (1 day) 5 sp

Meal, common 1 sp

Meal, good 3 sp

Meal, excellent 8 sp

Meal, feast (for 5) 8 gp


Ale/beer, poor (pitcher) 2 cp

Ale/beer, good (pitcher) 6 cp

Ale/beer, dwarven (pitcher) 13 gp

Wine, poor (bottle) 4 cp

Wine, good (bottle) 1 sp

Wine, elven (bottle) 15 gp

Inn (per person per day)

Poor, common room 13 sp

Good, shared room 814 sp

Excellent, private room 25 gp

Suite (sleeps 4 to 8) 520 gp

Mounts (including gear)

Item Price

Dog, guard 10 gp

Dog, riding 15 gp

Donkey/pack mule 10 gp

Horse, riding 20 gp

Horse, battle trained 80 gp

Feed for mount (per day) 24 cp

Weapons, Melee (average quality)

Item Price

Battle gauntlets 4 gp

Battleaxe 6 gp

Club 5 sp

Dagger/knife 1 gp

Double axe 12 gp

Flail 6 gp

Greataxe 10 gp

Greatsword 10 gp


Handaxe 3 gp

Longsword 7 gp

Mace 5 gp

Maul 10 gp

Morningstar 4 gp

Pick 4 gp

Polearm 8 gp

Rapier 10 gp

Sap 5 sp

Scimitar 5 gp

Shortsword 4 gp

Spear 2 gp

Staff 1 gp

Trident 4 gp

Two-bladed sword 15 gp

Warhammer 7 gp

Weapons, Ranged (average quality)

Item Price

Bow: Longbow 14 gp

Bow: Shortbow 9 gp

Crossbow: Hand crossbow 8 gp

Crossbow: Light crossbow 10 gp

Crossbow: Heavy crossbow 15 gp

Javelin 2 gp

Net, weighted 3 gp

Sling 2 sp

Shuriken 7 sp

Throwing axe 3 gp

Throwing hammer 3 gp


Armor (average quality)

Item Price

Cloth/padded 1 gp

Leather 10 gp

Studded leather 15 gp

Hide 10 gp

Light chain 20 gp

Heavy chain/ring 30 gp

Scale 40 gp

Half-plate 45 gp

Plate 50 gp

Shield 5 gp

Services

Item Price

Bath, with servants 1 gp

Bodyguard (d) 2 gp

Carriage/coach, one ride 2 sp

Carriage/coach 2 gp

Courier (intercity) 5 sp

Courier (long distance) 5 gp

Courier (urchin) 5 cp

Courtesan 1100 gp

Guide, urban (d) 1 gp

Guide, wilderness (d) 5 gp

Herald (in city only) 1 gp

Lantern bearer (in city) (d) 5 sp

Mercenary, soldier (d) 5 gp

Mercenary, thug (d) 1 gp

Moneylender (cost per 100gp) 5 gp


Oracle/seer/fortune teller 5 cp to 100 gp

Personal chef (d) 1 gp

Sage 550 gp

Valet/manual laborer 5 cp to 5 gp

Cleric (divine spells/rituals) Varies

Wizard (arcane spells/rituals) Varies

Races The major races included in the 13th Age Archmage Engine include humans, dwarves, elves,

gnomes, half-elves, half-orcs, and halflings. Your character need not be limited to these

races, however. Minor races, including Dragonic/Dragonspawn, Holy One/Aasimar,

Forgeborn/Dwarf-forged, and Tiefling/Demontouched, are also referenced below.

Each race is associated with two ability scores, one of which can be chosen for your

characters racial bonus.

Race Str Con Dex Int Wis Cha Any

Human +2

Dwarf +2 +2

Dark elf +2 +2

High elf +2 +2

Wood elf +2 +2

Gnome +2 +2

Half-elf +2 +2

Half-orc +2 +2

Halfling +2 +2

Dragonic/Dragonspawn +2 +2

Holy One/Aasimar +2 +2

Forgeborn/Dwarf-forged +2 +2

Tiefling/Demontouched +2 +2

The character also receives a separate class bonus. These two bonuses must apply to different

ability scores.

Each race also provides the character a special power that can be used once per battle. (It is

regained after a quick rest.) This is called the racial power.


Human

Racial Bonus

+2 to any ability score.

Bonus Feat

At 1st level, human PCs start with two feats instead of one.

Racial Power

Quick to Fight

At the start of each battle, roll initiative twice and choose the result you want.

Champion Feat

If you roll a natural 19 or 20 for initiative, increase the escalation die by 1 (usually from 0 to

1 since its the start of the battle).

Dwarf

Racial Bonus

+2 Con or +2 Wis

Racial Power

Thats Your Best Shot?

Once per battle as a free action after you have been hit by an enemy attack, you can heal

using a recovery. If the escalation die is less than 2, you only get half the usual healing from

the recovery. Unlike other recoveries that might allow you to take an average result, you

have to roll this one!

Note that you cant use this ability if the attack drops you to 0 hp or below. Youve got to be

on your feet to sneer at their attack and recover.

Champion Feat

If the escalation die is 2+ when you use thats your best shot, the recovery is free.

Dark Elf

Racial Bonus

+2 Dex or +2 Cha

Adventurer Feat (Elf)

Heritage of the Sword

If you can already use swords that deal d6 and d8 damage without attack penalties, you gain

a +2 damage bonus with them. (This bonus doesnt increase miss damage.)

Otherwise, if your class would ordinarily have an attack penalty with such swords, you can

now use them without penalties.

Racial Power

Cruel

Once per battle, deal ongoing damage to a target you hit with a natural even attack roll as a

free action. The ongoing damage equals 5 times your level. (For example, at 3rd level you


would deal 15 ongoing damage against a single target.) As usual, a normal save (11+) ends the

damage. A critical hit doesnt double this ongoing damage.

Champion Feat

Once per day, you can instead use cruel to deal 5 ongoing damage per level against an enemy

you miss or that you roll a natural odd attack against.

High Elf

Racial Bonus

+2 Int or +2 Cha

Racial Power

Highblood Teleport

Once per battle as a move action, place yourself in a nearby location you can see.

Champion Feat

Deal damage equal to twice your level to one enemy engaged with you before or after you

teleport.

Wood Elf

Racial Bonus

+2 Dex or +2 Wis

Racial Power

Elven Grace

At the start of each of your turns, roll a die to see if you get an extra standard action. If your

roll is equal to or lower than the escalation die, you get an extra standard action that turn.

At the start of battle, you roll a d6. Each time you successfully gain an extra action, the size

of the die you roll increases by one step on the following progression: (d4), d6, d8, d10, d12,

d20. If you get an extra action after rolling a d20, you cant get any more extra actions that

battle.

Champion Feat

Once per day, start a battle rolling a d4 for elven grace instead of a d6.

Gnome

Racial Bonus

+2 Dex or +2 Int

Small

Gnomes have a +2 AC bonus against opportunity attacks.

Racial Power

Confounding (Racial Power)

Once per battle, when you roll a natural 16+ with an attack, you can also daze the target

until the end of your next turn.


Champion Feat

Instead of being dazed, the target of your confounding ability is weakened until the end of

your next turn.

Minor Illusions

As a standard action, at-will, you can create a strong smell or a sound nearby. Nearby

creatures that fail a normal save notice the smell or sound. Creatures that make the save may

notice it but recognize it as not exactly real.

Half-elf

Racial Bonus

+2 Con or +2 Cha

Racial Power

Surprising

Once per battle, subtract one from the natural result of one of your own d20 rolls.

Champion Feat

You gain an additional use of surprising each battle, but you can only use it to affect a nearby

allys d20 roll.

Halfling

Racial Bonus

+2 Con or +2 Dex

Small

Gnomes have a +2 AC bonus against opportunity attacks.

Racial Power

Evasive

Once per battle, force an enemy that hits you with an attack to reroll the attack with a 2

penalty.

Champion Feat

The enemys reroll takes a 5 penalty instead.

Half-orc

Racial Bonus

+2 Str or +2 Dex

Racial Power

Lethal

Once per battle, reroll a melee attack and use the roll you prefer as the result.

Champion Feat

If the lethal attack reroll is a natural 16+, you can use lethal again later this battle.


Dragonic/Dragonspawn

Racial Bonus

+2 Str or +2 Cha

Racial Power

Breath Weapon

Once per battle, make a close-quarters breath weapon attack as a quick action using your

highest ability score against one nearby enemys Physical Defense. On a hit, the attack deals

1d6 damage per your level of an energy type that makes sense for your character.

Champion Feat

Your breath weapon attack targets 1d3 nearby enemies in a group instead.

Holy One/Aasimar

Racial Bonus

+2 Wis or +2 Cha

Racial Power

Halo

Once per battle as a free action during your turn, gain a +2 bonus to all defenses until you are

hit by an attack (or until the battle ends).

Champion Feat

Halo also activates automatically any time you heal using a recovery.

Forgeborn/Dwarf-forged

Racial Bonus

+2 Str or +2 Con

Racial Power

Never Say Die

Whenever you drop to 0 hp or below, roll a normal save if you have a recovery available. On

an 11+, instead of falling unconscious, you stay on your feet and can heal using a recovery.

Add the recovery hit points to 0 hp to determine your hp total.

Champion Feat

If you roll a 16+ on your never-say-die save, you gain an additional standard action during

your next turn.

Tiefling/Demontouched

Racial Bonus

+2 Str or +2 Int

Racial Power

Curse of Chaos

Once per battle as a free action when a nearby enemy rolls a natural 15 on an attack or a

save, turn their roll into a natural 1 and improvise a further curse that shows how their

attempt backfires horribly.


A curse should have about the same impact as a typical once-per-battle ability. For example,

a typical curse might lead to the cursed attacker dealing half damage to themself with their

fumbled attack and being dazed until the end of their next turn. The GM may reward

storytelling flair and/or limit the suggested effects of the curse.

Champion Feat

Whenever a nearby enemy rolls a natural 1 on an attack against you, you can use curse of

chaos against them without expending it.

Classes

Class Basics

Weapon Damage Progression

The basic rule for PC weapon damage is that a character deals 1 die of weapon damage per

class level, plus their ability modifier (or double the modifier at 5th level, and triple it at 8th

level). See Weapons for more on weapon damage rules.

Spell Progression

Most of the spells used by characters have higher-level versions. Those versions allow you to

choose the spell as a higher-level option if you like, rather than choosing an all-new spell. You

do not automatically gain access to the higher-level effects of a spell when you level up just

because you have a lower-level version of it.

Higher-level spells have higher damage amounts than their lower-level counterparts, but

these amounts and effects are not cumulative. Amounts from the highest level spell you have

are used. New effects from higher level spells are added to the spells original effects.

Shifting Choices during an Adventure These are guidelines for allowing PCs to change their chosen spells, powers, talents, and feats

during gameplay, subject to how forgiving you and your fellow players are.

Talents

Talents are a core element of your character. If youre going to rearrange your talents,

something extremely significant needs to have happened in your characters story, some

personal transformation or revelation. It is a sign of character transformation, usually

coinciding with shifts in icon relationships.

Spells

You can change the spells you can cast after each full heal-up.

Powers

You can reselect your power choices when you gain a level.

Feats

If youve made changes to spells and powers, revise your feats appropriately. If the changes

make sense for the characters story and the GM agrees, play them.

Incremental Advances

You can gain a higher-level power or spell from an incremental advance. If you opt to raise an

existing spell to a higher level, you can replace its lower-level spot with a new lower-level


spell. If you swap out lower-level spell for a higher-level spell, you cant replace a spell or

power you have already expended.

Starting Stats for 1st Level Characters

Base

HP

Usual

Base AC*

Base Physical

Defense

Base Mental

Defense

Background

Points

Recovery

Dice

Barbarian 7 12 11 10 8 d10/lvl

Bard 7 12 10 11 8 d8/lvl

Chaos Mage 6 10 10 11 8 d6/lvl

Cleric 7 14 11 11 8 d8/lvl

Commander 7 12 10 12 8 d8/lvl

Druid** 6** 10** 11 11 8 d6/lvl**

Fighter 8 15 10 10 8 d10/lvl

Monk 7 10 11 11 8 d8/lvl

Necromancer 6 10 10 11 8 d6/lvl

Occultist 6 11 10 11 8 d6/lvl

Paladin 8 16 10 12 8 d10/lvl

Ranger 7 14 11 10 8 d8/lvl

Rogue 6 12 12 10 8 d8/lvl

Sorcerer 6 10 11 10 8 d6/lvl

Wizard 6 10 10 12 8 d6/lvl

*The base AC numbers assume that the PC is in the armor that suits them best; see the class

write-ups for details. PCs who know how to fight using a shield get +1 AC when they have a

shield in one hand.

**Various druid talents will change these stats.

Barbarian

Ability Scores

Barbarians gain a +2 class bonus to Strength or Constitution, as long as it isnt the same ability

you increase with your +2 racial bonus.

Backgrounds Possible backgrounds include: clan champion, caravan outrider, fur trapper, mountain

tribeswoman, wasteland survivalist, and gladiator.


Gear

Gold Pieces

Barbarians may start with either 25 gp or 1d6 x 10 gp.

Armor

Armor Type Base AC Atk Penalty

None 10

Light 12

Heavy 13 2

Shield +1

Melee Weapons

One-Handed Two-Handed

Small 1d4 dagger 1d6 club

Light or Simple 1d6 hand-axe, warclub 1d8 spear

Heavy or Martial 1d8 longsword, battleaxe 1d10 greatsword, greataxe

Ranged Weapons

Thrown Crossbow Bow

Small 1d4 dagger 1d4 (5 atk) hand crossbow

Light or Simple 1d6 javelin, axe, spear 1d6 (5 atk) light crossbow 1d6 shortbow

Heavy or Martial 1d8 (5 atk) heavy crossbow 1d8 longbow

Level Progression Barbarian Level Total Hit Points Total Feats Class Talents

(M)

Level-up Ability

Bonuses

Damage Bonus from Ability

Score

Level 1

Multiclass

(Avg. of both

classes) x 3

As 1st level

PC

3 adventurer Not affected Ability modifier

Level 1 (7 + CON mod) x 3 1 adventurer 3 adventurer ability modifier



Level 4 (7 + CON mod) x 6 4 adventurer 3 adventurer +1 to 3 abilities ability modifier

Level 5 (7 + CON mod) x 8 4 adventurer

1 champion

3 adventurer

1 champion

2 x ability modifier


2 champion

3 adventurer

1 champion


Level 7 (7 + CON mod) x 12 4 adventurer 3 adventurer +1 to 3 abilities 2 x ability modifier


3 champion 1 champion


3 champion

1 epic

3 adventurer

1 champion

1 epic



3 champion

2 epic

3 adventurer

1 champion

1 epic



3 champion

3 epic

3 adventurer

1 champion

1 epic

+1 to 3 abilities 3 x ability modifier

(M): Indicates columns in which multiclass characters lag one level behind.


Stats Initiative, AC, PD, MD, Hit Points, Recovery Dice, Feats, and some Talents are level

dependent.

Ability Bonus +2 Strength or Constitution (different from racial bonus)

Initiative Dex mod + Level

Armor Class (light

armor)

12 + middle mod of Con/Dex/Wis + Level

Armor Class (shield and

light armor)

13 + middle mod of Con/Dex/Wis + Level

Physical Defense 11 + middle mod of Str/Con/Dex + Level

Mental Defense 10 + middle mod of Int/Wis/Cha + Level

Hit Points (7 + Con mod) x Level modifier (see level progression

chart)

Recoveries (probably) 8

Recovery Dice (1d10 x Level) + Con mod

Backgrounds 8 points, max 5 in any one background

Icon Relationships 3 points

Talents 3 (see level progression chart)

Feats 1 per Level

Basic Attacks

Melee attack

At-Will

Target: One enemy

Attack: Strength + Level vs. AC

Hit: WEAPON + Strength damage

Miss: Damage equal to your level

Ranged attack

At-Will

Target: One enemy

Attack: Dexterity + Level vs. AC

Hit: WEAPON + Dexterity damage

Miss:


Class Feature All barbarians have the Barbarian Rage class feature.

Barbarian Rage

Once per day, use a quick action to start raging. A rage lasts until the end of battle, or about

5 minutes.

While raging, you roll 2d20 to hit with your barbarian melee and thrown weapon attacks

instead of 1d20. Use the higher roll for the attack. If you roll a natural 11+ with both dice and

your highest attack roll is a hit, the attack is a critical hit!

Recharge 16+: After a battle in which you rage, roll a d20 and add your Constitution modifier.

On a 16+, you can use Barbarian Rage again later in the day.

Adventurer Feat

Whenever the escalation die is 4+, as a quick action, you can start raging for free. (It doesnt

count against your normal usage.) This rage lasts until the end of the battle, as normal.

Champion Feat

You can now start raging freely when the escalation die is 3+.

Epic Feat

You can now start raging freely when the escalation die is 2+.

Adventurer Talents Choose three of the following adventurer-tier class talents. You also get an additional

barbarian class talent at 5th level and again at 8th level.

Barbaric Cleave

Once per battle, as a free action, you can make a standard melee attack after having dropped

any enemy to 0 hp with a standard melee attack. Mooks do not count for this, unless the

mook you dropped was the last of its mook mob.

Adventurer Feat

You gain a +2 attack bonus with Barbaric Cleave attacks. If the cleave attack hits, you can

heal using a recovery.

Champion Feat

If there is no foe engaged with you to use your Barbaric Cleave attack against, as a free

action you can move to a nearby foe before making the attack.

Epic Feat

While raging, you can use Barbaric Cleave as many times as you like during a battle, but only

once per round.

Building Frenzy

One battle per day, as a free action after you have missed an attack, gain +1d4 damage to

each successful melee attack until the end of the battle. For each missed attack following

this, add another +1d4 damage, up to a maximum of +4d4 damage.

Adventurer Feat

Bonus damage dice are now d6s.


Champion Feat

Bonus damage dice are now d10s.

Epic Feat

You can use Building Frenzy twice a day.

Slayer

During your turn, when you attack a staggered enemy you were not engaged with at the start

of your turn, deal +1d6 damage per level to that creature if you hit.

Adventurer Feat

You gain a +2 bonus to Slayer attacks.

Champion Feat

Once per battle, when you miss with a Slayer attack, deal the additional +1d6-per-level

damage to the target instead of normal miss damage.

Epic Feat

Whenever one of your Slayer attacks drops a non-mook enemy to 0 hp, you gain 20 temporary

hit points.

Strongheart

Your recovery dice are d12s instead of d10s.

Adventurer Feat

Increase your total number of recoveries by 1.

Champion Feat

You gain +1 PD. When you heal using a recovery, you can roll a save against a save ends

effect.

Epic Feat

Increase your total number of recoveries by 1 (making a total of +2 from this talent).

Unstoppable

Once per battle, declare youre using Unstoppable before making a barbarian melee attack. If

your attack hits at least one target, you can heal using a recovery.

Adventurer Feat

The Unstoppable recovery is free.

Champion Feat

Add double your Constitution modifier to the healing the recovery provides.

Epic Feat

You can use Unstoppable twice per battle.

Whirlwind

You can make a Whirlwind attack as the first action of your turn when you are engaged by

two or more enemies.


You take a 4 penalty to your AC and PD until the start of your next turn. Then roll a separate

melee attack against each enemy you are engaged with. You deal no miss damage with these

attacks.

Adventurer Feat

You now deal normal miss damage with missed Whirlwind attacks.

Champion Feat

The penalty to your AC and PD is reduced to 2. In addition, disengage checks you make the

same turn as using Whirlwind automatically succeed.

Epic Feat

You can use Whirlwind anytime during your turn, not just as the first action.

Champion Talents

At 5th level, you gain an additional barbarian class talent. Choose one of these champion-tier

talents or take another adventurer-tier talent.

Natural Will

One battle per day as a quick action, you gain a +2 bonus to your Mental Defense until the

end of the battle.

Adventurer Feat

You can now use Natural Will in two battles per day.

Champion Feat

The bonus increases to +4 Mental Defense.

Epic Feat

You can now use Natural Will as a free action when an enemy attacks you.

Violence

Once per battle, add a +1d4 bonus to a barbarian melee attack roll after finding out whether

you hit or missed.

Champion Feat

If the attack still misses, deal half damage.

Epic Feat

The bonus increases to +1d6.

Epic Talents

At 8th level, you gain an additional barbarian class talent. Choose one of these epic-tier

talents, or take another adventurer-tier or champion-tier talent instead.

Ancestral Warband

One battle per day as a quick action, you can call the spirits of your ancestors to fight

alongside you. Your ancestors cant be hurt or affected by the creatures of this world.

At the end of each of your turns, if you are conscious, roll a d6. If you roll less than or equal

to the escalation die, a member of your spirit warband strikes from the spirit realm into the

world. Make a melee attack against a nearby enemy as if you were making the attack


yourself, using any talents, feats, or magic items as you see fit. This attack doesnt take any

of your actions.

Epic Feat

Your Ancestral Warband spirits are always raging, even if you are not, and continue to fight

for a single round while you are unconscious.

Relentless

While raging, you have resist damage 12+ (when an attack targets you, the attacker must roll

a natural 12 or higher on the attack roll or it only deals half damage).

Epic Feat

Even when not raging, whenever you score a critical hit against an enemy, you have resist

damage 12+ until the start of your next turn.

Bard

Ability Scores

Bards gain a +2 class bonus to Dexterity or Charisma, as long as it isnt the same ability you

increase with your +2 racial bonus.

Backgrounds

Possible backgrounds include: wandering minstrel, cathedral musician, court jester,

mercenary, tavern owner, failed hedge wizard, diplomat, spy, royal taster, caravan guide,

smuggler, and battle skald.

Gear At 1st level, bards start with non-magical musical instruments, a melee and ranged weapon of

their choice, some form of light armor, and any other minor elements of gear their

backgrounds suggest.

Gold Pieces

Bards may start with either 25 gp or 1d6 x 10 gp.

Armor

Armor Type Base AC Atk Penalty

None 10

Light 12

Heavy 13 2

Shield +1 1

Melee Weapons

One-Handed Two-Handed

Small 1d4 dagger 1d6 club

Light or Simple 1d6 mace, shortsword 1d8 spear


Heavy or Martial 1d8 longsword, scimitar 1d10 (2 atk) greatsword, dire flail

Ranged Weapons

Thrown Crossbow Bow

Small 1d4 dagger 1d4 hand crossbow

Light or Simple 1d6 javelin, axe 1d6 light crossbow 1d6 shortbow

Heavy or Martial 1d8 (1 atk) heavy crossbow 1d8 (2 atk) longbow

Level Progression

Although not listed on the table, this class gets three talents. It does not gain more at higher

levels

Bard

Level

Total Hit

Points Total Feats

Battle

Cries

(M)

Spells

&

Songs,

1st

level

(M)

Spells

&

Songs,

3rd

level

(M)

Spells

&

Songs,

5th

level

(M)

Spells

&

Songs,

7th

level

(M)

Spells

&

Songs,

9th

level

(M)

Level-up

Ability

Bonuses

Damage

Bonus

From

Ability

Score

Level 1

Multiclass

(Avg. of

both

classes)

x 3 1 adventurer 2 2

Not

affected

ability

modifier

Level 1

(7 + CON

mod) x 3 1 adventurer 2 2

ability

modifier

Level 2

(7 + CON

mod) x 4 2 adventurer

2, up

to 1st

level 3

ability

modifier

Level 3

(7 + CON


3, up

to 3rd

level 1 2

ability

modifier

Level 4

(7 + CON


3, up

to 3rd

level 4

+1 to 3

abilities

ability

modifier

Level 5

(7 + CON

mod) x 8

4 adventurer

1 champion

3, up

to 5th

level 3 2

2 x ability

modifier

Level 6

(7 + CON

mod) x

10

4 adventurer

2 champion

4, up

to 5th

level 5

2 x ability

modifier

Level 7

(7 + CON

mod) x

12

4 adventurer

3 champion

4, up

to 7th

level 3 3

+1 to 3

abilities

2 x ability

modifier

Level 8

(7 + CON

mod) x

16

4 adventurer

3 champion

1 epic

5, up

to 7th

level 6

3 x ability

modifier

Level 9

(7 + CON

mod) x

20

4 adventurer

3 champion

2 epic

5, up

to 9th

level 4 3

3 x ability

modifier

Level 10

(7 + CON

mod) x

24

4 adventurer

3 champion

3 epic

6, up

to 9th

level 7

+1 to 3

abilities

3 x ability

modifier


(M): Indicates columns in which multiclass characters lag one level behind


Stats Initiative, AC, PD, MD, Hit Points, Recovery Dice, Feats, and some Talents are level

dependent.

Ability Bonus +2 Dexterity or Charisma (different from racial bonus)

Initiative Dex mod + Level

Armor Class (light armor) 12 + middle mod of Con/Dex/Wis + Level

Physical Defense 10 + middle mod of Str/Con/Dex + Level

Mental Defense 11 + middle mod of Int/Wis/Cha + Level

Hit Points (7 + Con mod) x Level modifier (see level progression chart)

Recoveries 8

Recovery Dice (1d8 x Level) + Con mod

Backgrounds 8 points, max 5 in any one background

Icon Relationships 3 points

Talents 3

Feats 1 per Level

Basic Attacks

Melee Attack

At-Will

Target: One enemy

Attack: Strength OR Dexterity + Level vs. AC

Hit: WEAPON + Strength OR Dexterity damage

Miss: Damage equal to your level

Ranged Attack

At-Will

Target: One enemy

Attack: Dexterity + Level vs. AC

Hit: WEAPON + Dexterity damage

Miss:

Class Features As a bard advances in level, they have three different types of powers to choose in combat:

bardic songs, battle cries, and spells.


Bardic Songs

Bardic songs last for one or more rounds and end with a final verse that carries a big payoff.

Although magical, bardic songs dont count as spells; they dont force the bard to suffer

opportunity attacks from engaged enemies, and they cant be canceled by effects that can

cancel spells. In fact, bards can cast spells while in the middle of singing a bardic song.

Each song specifies what type of action starts it. To sustain it during the next round, it

requires an action and a d20 check against its sustain target. If successful, the song can

continue with its sustained effect for that round. (The next round will require another sustain

check.) If your attempt to sustain a song fails, the songs final verse effect resolves

immediately, and then the songs power ends. You can start another song on your next round.

You dont have to try to sustain the song at the start of your turn. If you choose not to sustain

a song, its effects end immediately and you choose whether to use the songs final verse

effect in the current round or to start a new song. You cant do both.

Some songs have an immediate effect that happens each time you start or sustain the song.

Others have effects that continue throughout the entire round.

Most songs stop when a bard is knocked unconscious, silenced, or stunned. Having your song

stopped this way prevents you from getting the final verse effect.

You can only sing one bardic song at a time. If you are singing a song (or spend an action to

try to sustain a song), you cant start another song that round.

Bardic songs are loud, and cancel any of stealth effects you may have.

Adventurer Feat

Your bardic songs dont stop immediately when you are knocked unconscious, stunned, or

silenced. Instead, they continue for one round, giving you the chance to sustain the song on

your next turn.

Battle Cries

Bards use battle cries to encourage, inspire, warn, and magically aid their allies. Battle cries

are triggered by flexible melee attacks. The bard make

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